His parents married a few months after his birth in 1759 in Amsterdam.[2]

Proclamation of the marriage of Arij Willemse Steijne and Cornelia Dol, 1759.[2]

Arij's mother was married earlier in late 1751 or early 1752 to Krelis Jansz Nonen[3] and they had two sons: Jan[4] and Krelis (Kornelis)[5] Kornelisz Nonen. Their father Kornelis Jansz Nonen, the first husband of Cornelia Dol, passed away very young in 1754.[6] We do not know why yet.[7] But leaving Cornelia with a two years old son Jan and an unborn son Kornelis.

More sadness to face and to deal with - both sons will not have a very long "and they lived happily ever after"-live. Kornelis Kornelisz Nonen, second son of Kornelia's first marriage passed away in 1763 at the age of only 8 years. At that time Kornelia was already married with Arij Stijne. Arij Willemsz Stijne, stephfather - reported the death of his wife's son Kornelis in Aalsmeer.[8] And Jan passed away at the age of 28 as we will learn later.

Arij was about 5 years old as Kornelis his youngest stephbrother died. The family lived at "het Oosteynde of Aalsmeer", the East End. The poorest part of the village and not knowing for sure but they must have a hard life.[9]

Arij's father, Arij Willemsz Stijne, was a "katoenbleker" (cotton bleacher) in Aalsmeer, same as his father in law (maybe working for him then) as far as we know.[10] Obvious Arij didn't like to follow his father in that hard occupation earning little money, but was eager to get away from the little village of Aalsmeer. He joined the VOC in December 1777 as he was 19 years old.[11] He left the Netherlands on the ship the Bovenkerker Polder, the ship named after a part of land close to where he and his parents lived as a sailor and sailed to Bengalen and came back to The Netherlands in July 1779. [12]

Arij's eldest and only living half brother Jan No(o)nen enlisted with Arij and Arij was enlisting for the second time, the VOC in 1779.[13]

It is most likely that Arij made Jan enthousiastic with his stories and the amount of money ( fl.246) he made, to make Jan eager to join the VOC too. Arij wasn't married. Jan was, but although he was, he joined the VOC leaving his wife and young son behind.

Remarkable is that both young man enlisted the same date in Nov. 1779 with the same destination - Batavia - but on different ships of the VOC. Jan travels with the ship Indiaan[13] and Arij with the ship Behemoth[14], both leaving 1779-11-18. The Behemoth arrives in Batavia 1780-09-12[15]. The Indiaan a day later 1779-09-13.[16] But dreadfully the brothers will not meet in Batavia..... Unfortunately Jan passed away on board of the Indiaan, 1780-09-08, only 5 days before the arrival in Batavia.[13]

In spite of this sad event or maybe because of this, Arij stays in Asia with the VOC. And in the next ten years he joins at a lot of journeys of VOC ships around Batavia, not going home, ending in Cape of Good Hope February 1788 [17] where he probably marries in that same month with Anna Elisabeth Paulsen[18], born at Cape of Good Hope as daughter of Christiaan Paulsen with German roots and Maria van der Schelde with Dutch (and Andries Pretorius) roots.[19]

Arij leaves the Cape as he joined the ship Barbestein and sailing to his homeland 1788-09-09 and arriving at Rammekens in Zeeland 31-05-1789,[20] leaving his (pregnant) wife behind.

Part of the "Soldijboek" VOC of Arij Steijne from Aelsmeer, 1779-1789[17][21]

Arij got a big promotion after the ten years he served the VOC. At the bottom of the "soldijboek"-note it is said he did not receive "zijlgeld" but he is named Cap.n Lieuten.n.[17]

In between - in 1789 as Arij is back in the Netherlands - Arij's wife is giving birth at the Cape of Good Hope to a daughter named Maria Cornelia Wilhelmina Steyn, baptized 1789-07-12, Cape Town, South Africa, with as witnesses the parents of Anna and maybe two uncles (?) of Arij.[22] As Arij left the Cape in September 1788 the baptims must have been delayed a little, maybe hoping for Arij to be present at the baptism.[23]

Arij enlists again to the VOC 1790-01-18, but now at the Kamer van Zeeland instead of the Kamer van Amsterdam he worked for so far. Enlisting as Captain Arij Steijne from Aalsmeer on the ship de Goede Trouw.[24] Only 32 years old!

Leaving from Rammekens[26], as Captain, via The Cape of Good Hope (1790-04-22 till 1790-05-21), arriving at Batavia 1790-08-09.[27][24]

This wonderful story of a young and brave man from a small village named Aalsmeer, son of a poor family, searching for adventure and succesful at what he did, ends sad. :The third son of Kornelia Dol and the eldest son of Arij Willemsz Stijne, passed away too young.

Captain Arij Steijne leaves Batavia with the Goede Trouw to sail to Deshima, Nagasaki, Japan, with the new Opperhoofd Hendrik Andries Ulps.[28] They will never arrive. The ship the Goede Trouw is specified as "missing" 1791-06-21[29]

Anna Paulsen is becoming a member of the Dutch Reformed Church in 1796-03-16. Did she know she was a widow then?[31]

Apparently Arij only left a daughter at the Cape. He was a Stamouer but not leaving posterity with his name. [32]

---

Baptism

Arie, his name latinized at the old Catholic Church(book) as Adrianus, is born out of wetlock and baptized 1758-11-15 in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands, as son of Arie (last name not recorded) and Kornelia Barentz Dol. Witness: Koba Tobias.[1]

Name

Events

Arie Steine from Aalsmeer joins the VOC (Kamer van Amsterdam) 1777-12-29 as a Sailor on the ship Bovenkerker Polder, captain Klaas Roem, sailing from Texel, The Netherlands via the Cape of Good Hope (1778-04-10 till 1778-05-02) to Bengalen where he arrives 1778-08-20. He returns back with the Bovenkerker Polder, leaving 1778-11-25 via Cape de Goede Hoop (1779-02-08 till 1779-03-03), arriving at Texel 1779-07-03. Arij signing off.[12][34]

According the Transcription at the Nationaal Archief: Arie Steijne from Aelsmer joins the VOC (Kamer van Amsterdam) 1779-11-18 as a sailor, leaving on the ship Behemoth [11] from Texel via Cape of Good Hope (1780-04-17 till 1780-03-03) to Batavia, where he arrives 1779-06-09.

1789 - Home ... Barbestein for Z, according to note, done, less than fl 500, = for .........., no sailing money, Captain Lienten.[17][40]

Arie Steyn from Aalsmeer in the Netherlands was Captain of the ship De Meermin, with his arrival at the Cape of Good Hope where he married Anna Elisabeth Paulsen on 24.2.1788. [18][41]

Arij Stijne joined the VOC again 1790-01-18 and made great promotion, from sailor a year before he became Captain on the ship Goede Trouw. Leaving from Rammekens, via The Cape of Good Hope (1790-04-22 till 1790-05-21), arriving at Batavia 1790-08-09.[42][24]

Arij Steijne leaves Batavia heading for Deshima, Nagasaki, Japan. But he had bad luck and will not arrive there as his ship is specified as missing 1791-06-21[29]

Acknowledgements

BIG thank you to the present Chairman of Stichting Oud-Aalsmeer of Aalsmeer (January 2018) Jan Willem de Wijn. Jan Willem did research on labour and migration of the village Aalsmeer in former times at his University study History in Amsterdam. So also on those from Aalsmeer that joined the VOC. Arij Stijne was one of them, leaving questions behind of Jan Willem with a challenge to genealogists in his publication: Aalsmeerder bij de VOC, Avonturen in Afrika en Azië, by Jan Willem de Wijn, ISBN 978-90-800531-7-5, NUR 688, Drukkerij COCU, 2010 Stichting Oud Aalsmeer did the main research here. [43]

Correspondence

"Hi All, A friend of us who is for years now chairman of the Historic Association of Aalsmeer, - where my husband was also a member of the board - started to study History at the University of Amsterdam about 15 years ago. At his Major, Global History, he choose to do research on labour and migration. And he choose to research the immigration and emigration of the people in Aalsmeer. One part beheld the people of Aalsmeer who joined the VOC. Trying to find answers on why etc. His research on the VOC was in just a small edition published. A few years ago as he know how much interested we are in the history of Aalsmeer he gave my husband his booklet of about 75 page as a gift. It is named Aalsmeerders (people of the town Aalsmeer) bij de (at the) VOC, Avonturen (Adventures) in Afrika and Azie, published 2010. This spring I took the time to read it. Very interesting research at the left pages of the booklet but with some nice stories added as well about the people on the left pages. Now tonight I used the DataDoctor to find "suggestions" on the unsourced people from Aalsmeer. Just curious how many needed to be sourced at the coming challenge, as that is easy scoring for me. :p And there I came across the profile of Arie Steijn. Now in this research there is a captain Arij Willemz Steyn or Steynen of Aalsmeer who seems to be the father of Arie Steyn (abt. 1750). As the profile is PPP-ed I didn't want to start the profiles of the parents but first wanted to share with you what I found with the help of that research at the churchbooks of Amsterdam and Aalsmeer so far tonight. 1759-03-02 Proclamation/Subscription of the intended marriage of Arij Willemz Steyne, from Aalsmeer, gereformeerd (religion), 23 years old living at the Uiterste Poort, parents deceased, assisted by his nephew Marten Pietzn Heere & Cornelia Dol, from Aalsmeer, gereformeerd, 30 years old living at the Prinsegrgt (Prinsengracht Amsterdam), parents deceased, assited with her Moj (godmother) Mijtie van den Bergh. Kornelia signs with her name, Arij with a +. Proclamation1759-StadsArchiefAmsterdam 02-03-1759 - Steijne, Arij Willemse - Doll, Cornelia - DTB 602, p.334 - Huwelijksintekeningen van de KERK. - OTR00153000170 According to the research Cornelia was married before to Cornelis Jansz Noone. And Arij started as a sailor at the VOC and sailed mostly to Batavia and Japan. The part of Aalsmeer where Arie and Kornelia lived, although they were registered at the marriage as gereformeerd in Amsterdam, the place they lived in Aalsmeer was verrry strict Old Catholic. Arij is twice marked as Acatholicus at his youngest childrens baptisms. Now here are the children. Arie was the first born out of wetlock and baptized: 1758-11-15 Baptism (Latinized name:) Adrianus, Arie. illegitimus, Father: Arie, Mother Kornelia Barents Dol, Witness: Koba Tobias. 1761-02-08 Baptism (latinized name:) Anna, named Antje, Father Arie Stijne, Mother Kornelia Barents Dol, Witness: Koba Tobias Baptism1761-FamilySearch Netherlands, Noord-Hollan...Church Records, 1523-1948 Oud Katholiek Aalsmeer Dopen 1730-1811, Image 41 of 65, Left page. 1764-06-24 Baptism (latinized name:) Kornelius, named Kornelis 1766-12-14 Baptism (latinized name:) Wilhelmus, named Willem, Father Arie Willemze Stijne, Acatholicus, Mother Kornelia Barents d'Hol. Witness: Koba Tobias Baptism1766-FamilySearch Netherlands, Noord-Hollan...Church Records, 1523-1948 Oud Katholiek Aalsmeer Dopen 1730-1811, Image 44 of 65, left page. 1769-09-19 Baptism of Bernardus, Barent, Father: Arie Willemze Stijne, Acatholicus, Mother Kornelia Barents d'Hol. Witness Koba Tobias. Baptism1769-FamilySearch Netherlands, Noord-Hollan...Church Records, 1523-1948 Oud Katholiek Aalsmeer Dopen 1730-1811, Image 45 of 65, right page top. Now I ran out of time but according to the research book Arij or Arend or Arie leaves at the end of 1777 as sailor on the ship "Bovenkerker Polder" from Texel to Bengal. He returns in 1779. He leaves that year as sailor with the Behomoth from Texel to Batavia. His stephson also signed in to the VOC at the same date but leaves on the "Indiaan" as carpenter but he passed away during the journey 1780-09-08 according to the research. (didn t check yet). Arij probably works for the VOC at Indie, made a great career as he returns to the Netherlands he leaves again after a year as captain on the "Goede Trouw" to Batavia. The next travel is to Deshima, with on board the new VOC-opperhoofd Hendrik Andries Ulp. He will never arrive as the "Goede Trouw" as the ship is missing between Batavia and Deshima in 1791. The notes are closed with: quoting -Arie and his town mate Vinkenoog were noted as missed But mabey Arie survived as two years after the disaster he seems to be present at the wedding of his son Willem in Amsterdam. And again two years later is Arij Steijnen named as one of the first nine members of the Muncipal of Aalsmeer. But who knows this can be his oldest son Adrianus (Arie). Work to do for genealogists! - end quote. Now there is much more to search on and find sources. Tell me if you like me to start the profiles of the parents. To encourage you all, there are only about (according to the research) about a little more than 200 man from Aalsmeer who joined the VOC. They did not all go to South-Africa :) Very kind regards from Aalsmeer, The Netherlands, A."

Added by mistake the link to the reporting of the death of first husband of Arij's mother Cornelia twice instead of the link to the source of the reporting of the death of Arij's stephbrother, Cornelia's and her first husbands second son Kornelis. http://prntscr.com/i1xwqo

Adding right link of the reporting of Kornelis Noone, son of Kornelis Jansz Noone and Cornelia Doll, stephbrother of this Arij Steijne in a minute. Replacing the double link to the death of the first husband of Cornelia Dol. And will add the right link to the Biography.

I am sorry. Thank you Olga for thanking me as it made me review the biography and finding my mistake.

Well the strike at the marriage doc is - in my humble opinion, so not a prove - striked later. Why should a clerck strike that. Did he know Kornelia? Knowing she was not a Barents/Barense? Or did Arij and Kornelia just stay anonymous? Why they married at Amsterdam and not at Aalsmeer? They already had a son born out of wetlock. I can not find a note at Aalsmeer so far they made a proclamation at Aalsmeer but at a few churchbooks in Aalsmeer of 1759 are missing. At the proclamation is also missing Cornelia's former marriage. Not mentioned. (Searched And J.M. (young man meaning unmarried) and J.D. (young daughter = meaning unmarried). I ve seen before former marriage not named at proclamations. But we need to keep it in mind. I searched at marriage attachments in Amsterdam archives online without results.............

We can not be sure so I looked for more sources. At the [PaymentsIntendedMarriage1751-FamilySearch Netherlands, Noord-Hollan...Church Records, 1523-1948 Alle Gezindten Aalsmeer Ontvangen, Trouwen 1695-1805, Image 75 of 168 payment] for the marriage Kornelia is named Barents at the payment of the marriage.

Done here. Added I think all I could. Will remove me from the trusted list. Finnished here as I needed to finnish this tonight as I need a break from WT.

Only thing is missing is link/source to marriage but FamilySearch doesn t give me access to marriages at Stellenbosch in 1788. We do need a reliable source that can be seen by everyone in despite of Olga's.

Thank you Olga! Thank you Philip for giving me your trust. You two are
stars!

Olga thank you so much for adding a marriage date. It made me taking a closer look at the payment rolls. I need to add that info but I am not an expert on reading payment rolls. So I will post a question at G2G for some help.

How sure are you about the wedding date? Very happy with it but I can not (and so not others) with my/our own eyes. You live at South Africa? Can you provide more info on Anna and the place of wedding? Obvious Arij had little time so the wedding was most likely close to the harbour. :D

If I sourced right Arij and his bride had little time together. Maybe she travelled with him to the Netherlands in 1788. Nah........ can't be as daughter Maria was born at the Cape. Poor family: Short luck. Besides Maria the chance is little they had more children. :/

Olga I think it is not right to say Arij was Captain at the Meermin. I know you took it from some reliable info. But he is only named as Captain here at the Goede Trouw. If you agree with the info we have now, do you mind to take the "captain of the Meermin" down till we have (better or any) evidence for that. For now the opposite is shown at the payroll. I am sorry. :) But I am sure you will take it in consideration.

According to the Soldijbooks Arij was still a sailor as he sailed the Meermin in 1788 or do I over see something? All help appreciated.

He is not payed a captain salary as well then.

Arij becomes a captain, after 10 years of loyal service, just a year later in 1790, on the ship de Goede Trouw. The ship goes down as far as I know between Batavia and Deshima in 1791. Looking for sources. :)

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